Over a year ago, Grace and I began working on a book on marriage. It was a long, painful, rewarding, and important project to work on together that, by God’s grace, brought Grace and me closer together as friends and partners in life.
On Tuesday, January 3, that book, Real Marriage: The Truth About Sex, Friendship, & Life Together, hit stores.
You can read the first chapter for free here.
We’re prayerfully hoping that this book will be a New York Times bestseller for Jesus’ fame and in the hope that by God’s grace, many marriages will be healed through the content in the book and the story of our hard times and healing times.
The response to the book so far has been encouraging, and I thought I’d share some of the gracious things people are saying about the book.
What Others Are Saying about Real Marriage
“The best book I've read all year. You just need to get it.” – Andy Stanley1, senior pastor, North Point Community Church
“This book is powerful, biblical, practical and healing for marriages that hurt. My wife and our adult children read it to great profit.” – Dr. James MacDonald, senior pastor, Harvest Bible Chapel
“I am so thankful that Mark and Grace Driscoll wrote this book. Their approach to marriage, its benefits and challenges, are transparent and challenging.” – Perry Noble, senior pastor, NewSpring Church
“Mark and Grace lay it all out there in Real Marriage. If you have a marriage question, they have have provided the answer.” – Miles McPherson, senior pastor, Rock Church
“Wow! This is the most vulnerable marriage book we've ever read. Its honesty will take your breath away.” – Drs. Les & Leslie Parrott, founders of RealRelationships.com and authors of Love Talk
“Mark and Grace have written an extraordinary book characterized by compassions for a bewildered generation that has failed to grasp the significance of covenant love.” – Terry & Wendy Virgo, Newfrontiers and Church of Christ the King in Brighton, UK
“Neo-Reformed views come shining through, with much emphasis on sin’s role in wrecking marriages today and Christ’s role in redeeming them. Taken to heart and put into practice, this boldly refreshing approach can change couples across America by letting God do the changing.” – Publishers Weekly, 11/14/2011
“In a world where clergy often try to hide their flaws, the Driscolls can offer a refreshing model for 21st-century Christians seeking real-life examples of how to live what the Bible taught about sex two to three millennia ago.” – Publishers Weekly, 12/21/11
The Real Marriage Sermon Series
In conjunction with the book, starting on January 15, we’ll be launching the Real Marriage sermon series at Mars Hill Church, spending 11 weeks studying what the Bible has to say about marriage. We’re excited for this series because we believe that healthy churches are built on healthy marriages.
The Real Marriage Campaign
For the first time ever, we’re also giving away all our sermon series resources through the Real Marriage Campaign, including hundreds of pages of research from Docent Research Group, my personal sermon notes, all our marketing and design materials, counseling and worship guides, and social media suggestions.
Over 2,000 churches and ministries have signed up to follow along with us through the Real Marriage Campaign. We’re praying that many marriages are healed, that good marriages are made better, and that those who are single or thinking about marriage will be equipped to start off on the right foot when the time comes.
The Real Marriage Tour
In February, we’ll also kick off a multi-year, multi-city Real Marriage Tour. At these events, we’ll be covering the Real Marriage material. I encourage you to register for a tour date in a city near you.
Please pray for Grace and me, that we would remain close friends by God's grace and help other couples to do the same. This multi-year tour is intentionally hosted by solid Bible-teaching churches who love Jesus. Our hope is to truly help people in their relationship with Jesus and their spouse. And once the tour leaves, we want those without a church home to have a good church home to connect with for ongoing support and growth. We love the church, and we believe strong marriages are the key to strong churches and communities.
Purchase a copy of Real Marriage today:
Buy on Amazon Buy on Barnes & Noble
1 Ed.’s Note: Pastor Andy was given an advance copy of the book in the fall of 2011—so he’s not saying this is the best book he’s read in just these first five days of 2012!
